Stabilizing platform



A 2 1934. p. D. w. SWING 1,970,630

STABILIZING PLATFORM Filed Jan. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR F eom/cx Q 14/. SEAR/Ne BY w.

I I 1-. I L+ l 38 36 TTORNEY 1934. F. D. w. SEARING STABILIZING PLATFORM Filed Jan. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDERICK 0 WSEAR/Ns Patented Aug. 21, 1934 units skrarsisz.

v 1,970,630 s ABiLIZING PLATFORM V g FrederickD."W-: Searing, Newark, N. J.

, Applieation ianuar za 1933,, Serial No; 653,363

9 Claims. (01. 114-191) This application is in part a continuation of application; serialiNoi 588,513 for improvements in stabilizing platforms filed by me on or about January 14; 1932.

This inventionrelates-to: devicesfor-stabilizing ships' furniture and has special referenceto platforms; so mounted and counter-poised that by reason of the universal; motion of the mountingmembers persons or articles resting upon the "platforrndo not partakeof 'th'e'rolling' and pitchingmotions of the ship. j One of 'th'e-objectsof the invention isto' provide a-platform' support with a pair of parallel,-

upwardly open, concavely curved tracks, an in tel-mediate-member--havingtwo pairs ofwheels forrunningon these tracks, and a-pairof parallel} upwardly open, concavely curved tracks disposed cross-wise-of the-line of the thread of the wheels, and a platform having two pairs-'of whee'lsfor runningon the tracks on the intermediate memberi a Another object: of the invention isto provide a' device for-use on ship-board made up' of three separate-platforms or frames adapted'to be held g togethe-r-solely by the force of gravity, andin its preferredform comprising a basemember adapted" to rest upon or be'supported on'some portion of ashipand formed on its upper-surface as a pair of-i-parallel, upwardlyopen, concavely curved tracks, an intermediate member having two pairs 1 ia -member havingtwo pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the intermediate member; the tracks of theintermediate member being constructed andadapted forreceiving at assembly;

theewheels ofthe upper member by. a direct downward-movement. r

Another object of the, invention is to i so form theytracksof the membersabove described that theyyare constructed and adapted for permitting the removal at disassembly of the wheels from:

sothe'tracks bydirect upward movements. V

' Another object: ofthe invention is to 1 provide a-structurebf this character which adapted" toi receive' various articles of ships furniture sucheasfdeckv chairs, berths, beds and couches.

: ilhestructure: ,ofarticles, for; use: upon this device may be modified-orredesignedso that when they: are resting upon or supported" by it their main portions are at the customary horizontal level or height from the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide. in a stabilizing device means for immediately overcoming the inertiavand friction of the movable parts so as'to cause an immediate and even adjustment of the supported body .to the motion: of'the boat. l

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a stabilizing device for use on shipboard maderup; of a numberv of parts normally constituted for ready and interchangeable assembly one with the other and for ready disassembly one. from another;

Afurther object is:to so construct the various parts thatthey may be folded up or knocked dovvn sothat they'may conveniently be stacked. or stored.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a stabilizing device for use on shipboard andmade up of a' base frame adapted to rest upon or be sup! ported by some portion of a ship, a pair of"mem-. bers each formed on its upper edge asa'con cavely curved track, hinges for pivotally uniting the trackmembers to the frame whereby they may be'raised into an upstanding operative posi tion, or knocked down for transportation or storage, an intermediate frame having two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the base frame; apairof members formedon their upper edges 1 as concavely curved tracks, hinges unit-- ing these track members to the intermediate frame whereby they may be-pivotally raised into an upstandingoperative position transversely of the lines of the'tracking of the wheels carried by such frame, the trackmembers also being adapt-i ed to fold down, and an'upper frame having two pairsof'wheels for runningori' the tracks of the 5;

intermediate frame.

Another object of the invention is to provi'de'a device of this character having three superim poisedirames, one of'these being-a base framead'apt'edlto rest upon or be supported bysOm'e IO-Oi portion ofa ship and furnished with a pair of" upwardlydirected tracks, an intermediate frame memberhaving'two pairs of wheelsior running" upon, such tracks 1 and furnished with a "pair of tracks disposed transversely to the-tracking of- 105.- its wheels upon the base member and the top frame orplatform member, being theibodyor. burden supportingpart, and having two pairs-of.-

l wheels for running upon the tracks of the intermediate member and a weight control device 119% top.

in the form of a single weight attached to the top platform and active upon the intermediate member through its track and the wheels of the top platform.

Another object of my invention is to generate the tracks of a device of this character as an arc of a circle of a diameter somewhat longer than is the distance apart between the points of wheel contacts with the tracks.

In the drawings accompanying this specification one practicable embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which drawings:

Figure 1 shows the device in an isometric projection.

Fig. 2 is a view looking at this device from the Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken at about the plane of the line 33 in Fig. 2, the showing being on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view taken at about the plane of 4- 1 in Fig. 2, this section being on about the same scale as is Fig. 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 show each of ,the three parts of the device disassembled, their knock-down or folded positions being represented in broken lines, and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a wheel. The form of the device illustrated herein comprises three superimposed members in frames the lowest of-which is particularly designed for resting upon the flooring of the deck of a ship, altho it may be otherwise supported, and the upper of which is a platform represented by a pair of longitudinally disposed planks or members 5 and 6, and a pair of transverse members '7 and 8, is the body or burden supporting member of the device. The shape and nature of theframes or members are, of course determined by the form and nature of the body, device, or article of furniture which it is intended to support and stabilize.

One purpose of my invention is to mount this frame or burden supporting platform on two sets of wheels running on transversely disposed tracks to afford a universalmovement incident to the 'rolling and pitching of the ship. For purposes of greater stability and rapid response to motion and to avoid topheaviness the upper surface of the platform is preferably located well below the points of contact of the rollers with the tracks and for the purpose of overcoming inertia of the parts and the friction of the rollers and their associated parts I attach to the top platform a counter-poise preferably in the nature of a heavy body whose weight is approximately fifteen to twenty pounds and is determined by the estimated weight or approximately so of the person or body which is to be supported by the stabilizer. Another use of thisweight control is to stabilize the device itself and counteract the tendency of the movement of the person sitting in a chair or lying in a berth supported by the platform to cause the rollers to traverse their tracks. These features as well as many of .the features ofconstruction including the knock-downcharacteristics of the device are developed in the following detailed description of lightness but sufficient strength to withstand the use and abuse to which ships furniture is sub jected and also of such a metal or alloy that there may be no corrosion from the sea air or water generally, particularly sea water. The lower supporting frame or member of the structure, that which is intended to rest upon the deck of the ship if the device is intended to carry a steamer chair, is shown comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed planks or members 9 and 10 and a pair of transversely disposed members 11 and 12. The under side of this frame is furnished preferably in its corners with blocks 13 constituting feet which are preferably furnished with-some sliding device such as domes of silence 14. The frame may also be provided with a hook engaging device such as an eyelet 140 for facilitating the work of the attendants in moving the entire structure around upon the deck of the ship. This base of the lower supporting member carries a pair of track members l5and 16 which in a normal operative For knockdown purposes, that is for storage and transportation, these track members are pref erably pivoted to the base portion. For instance,

the member 15 is pivoted directly to the longitudinal member 9 by means of a pair of hinges l8 and is adapted to fold down flat upon planks 9,

10, 11 and 12 forming the base, (see the dash lines in Fig. 5) a hingel9 to a strip 20 which is secured to the outer edge of the base planklO. This strip is of a thickness not less than the thickness of the track member 15 so that the track member 16 may be folded fiat upon the track member 15 as also illustratedin Fig. 5. Some suitable means is provided for holding the track members in their upstanding and operative positions. Hooks and eyes 21, 22 and bolts and loops 200, 201 have been found convenient for this purpose. 1

The intermediate frame comprises a pair of planks or members 32, 33 connected by a pair of metal strips one inch wide or members 32, 33. The members 32, 33 are shown carrying a pair of transverse planks 34, 35. At the four corners a pair of track members 36, 37 formed on their upper edges with a pair of parallel tracks 38 are carried by this intermediate frame, and parallel with the planks 32,33. form to the tracks 17, but preferably being arcs generated on a shorter radius, are formed in the edges of these members 36 and 37.

The member 16 is pivoted by means of.

The tracks are similar inv The track'members 36, 3'7 are pivoted to the I base portion of the intermediate member, the

member 36 having a hinge 39 secured to it and tothe transverse plank 33, the hinge being secured to the track member 36 at an appreciable distance above its lower end so that when the track mem-- ber is in its upstanding position this lower end 40 will abut against the plank 33, and when the device is in its folded and knock-down position the. member 36 will lie flat on the base portion of this intermediate .member. Means somewhat similar to that employed for'hinging the track member .16 of the lower supporting member are also employed in this connection. Thehinge 11 for the track member 37 is secured toa strip 42 which is fastened to'the base member. The parts are shown upstanding and in folded position in Fig.6.

The intermediate member is shown carrying two pairs of wheels 43 adapted to run in tracks 1'7 of the lower supporting member. This track 17 ispreferably generated on a diameter which is somewhat longer than is the "distance apartof the track engaging points of the pair of wheels nevmcsoi to uponit'. Such pointsare indicatedaby/the referencecharactersafl I in Fig; 4': Theserwheels: orsrollers 44 have cushioning:tiresft5iof suitableelasticity: toprevent rumbling when the wheels means :of a suitable lag screw: 49.

When the intermediate member: isfolded or knockeddown, as represented in thedashlinesin-Fig: 6;-thewhe'elsalsoiwill move into a= closed'-' ly curved tracks38, carried bythe track'membersWSSand-B'Z, aredisposed transversely of the linesofsthe tracking of the wheels-43, whichthe intermediate member: carries, with" the tracks 17 carried by the base-member.

' The platform: heretofore described ascom-' prising the-membersfi, 6; 7 and 8 is furnished with=two pairs-of wheels5l, similar in construe tion to the'whee1s 43: These wheels support hanger members 52 similar tothe hanger membars 47, only: somewhat. shorter. The hanger members 52 are pivoted by'means oflag bolts 53: to theframe members; In this instance pins-'54 are provided for holding the wheels in their proper knock-down position; (see- Fig. '7)

The counter-poise weight control represented at=551 inthe drawing is-shownformed with a-de-- pression and-iron cross pin'56, the weight control being covered with canvas except over depression andcross pin-sothatthe weight control may betakenofff. the device and stored as occasion requires; I preferably attach this counter-poise weight to the platform member by meansotfie-xible-straps 57 furnished with-eyesfi for engag inghooks 59 carried by the planks or framememhere of the top platform; 'Thestraps 57 -are-di--- reoted longitudinally-and transversely of thedevice, that is one pair of them is paralleltothe planes of the tracks 1-? and the other pairis parallel to the planesof thetracks 353. at the'point: of-their meeting 60 are held* together by a--ring whichcarries-a snap-hoop dl which is=adaptedto engage the cross pin 56 f the weight 55;

hangers 47 1 and 52 and two bolts'63 are shownpassing through each of the track members 36* and 37.

In assemblingthe device the lower supporting structure-"is placed onthe. deck preferably in the positionin which it will be-used;- The intermediatemember will be assembled by a direct downward movement placing" itswheels 43in thetracks 1'7, and theplatform-member'will be assembled-by a direct downwardmovement" placing its wheels I'in-the tracksj38: Some'suitable piece offurniture, as for instance a deck chair, will .be mounted 'onthe. platform, or it1may inpr'a'ctice be-a-part of the platform. Theweight -will,be ,properly ..ap.plied when the device is l in position ,to ,be, used. The, lowertsupportine meme heiz standing with,its feet lagupon the-deck will;

The straps partake of thermotionuofc the: ship in;.its rolling: and; pitching. Assuming: that: at steamer: chair: is mounted: on; the-platform; and" occupied by a; person; the; wheels will. move: back andsforth: in: their: respective tracks? relative to; the bottom: member responsive to the movement of the boat,

the: personzbeinga stabilized in; his position. The: counter-poise weight: 55; which acts; through its straps somewhat after the: manner: of a lever also brings-the; center of; gravity-; of 1 the device; very low. Whenthe'ship. isrocking-or pitching any change of direction-or movement-of the ship: causes a change-- of direction or tendency to movement, of the intermediatememberf and the platfornnmemben relative to the lower-member which movement is resisted toa, slight amount. by means. of. the .frictionof: the parts and inertia; Such friction and inertiaare overcome by the, stabilizer weight:control..

Anotherfunction of the-:stabilizer weight controlis that it stabilizes the stabilizer :againstzindependent movements of the; personbeing sup-, ported by it. v.

The weight control in my stabilizer: performs four functions, the most importantof which; is the first i First-4t acts immediatelyby virtue ofzits mass tostart thewheels on alliour tracks, overcoming their inertia: and friction and. giving the stabi lizerprompt and immediatezadjustment. Without :this prompt adjustment .topheaviness. immew diately develops and prevents adjustment.

Second-By reason of-= itsmasseit counteracts movements: ofthe body being 1 supported giving, stability to thep erson in the chair. Prevents oscillation.

Third. -It. counteracts topheaviness by the, same leverage acting as a counter-poise.

Eourthw-ltlowers the center of :gravityby putting-a heavyweight ata-low point; within a few: inches-of the deck, and thus by the mass or inertia ofthe weight at. alow point counteracts. topheaviness;

Another important feature is; the drop frames.-w whereby the point of application ofweightto be supported; (the top platform) is'brought" below thelineof wheel contact on'both tracks. This is accomplished by -droppingthetop frame below the line of wheel contact on theintermediate frame about four inches' and'by; raising. the bot tom track highqup and then. dropping; the intermediate frame andtop frame'a'bout seven inches;

This overcomes: topheavinessand, combines 5 the principle-of. a;swing; leverag e with that. of the; curved tracks :imadjustmentto; boat motion; By;

thisconstruction the upper-and lower tracks are:

sorelated that: the pointofi wheel contact on both setsof tracks; comes at approximatelythe same-2 levelwhen the-three-superimposedframes arezin normal; position and such contact on; alltracks isabove therpoint cfweight-zcontact of ,thebody;

supported.

Having thus; described my invention, what- IT claim-and desireto secure by, Letters Patentisr 1'; 11113, st abilizing device for use on shipboardt the combination with a base member adapted to rest: upon or: be -supported by someportion of a;

ship, and: formed on itSfllDDGl :surface as a: pair. of parallel; upwardly: open; concaveiy' .curved' tracks; of: an"; intermediate; membenhaving two pairs 1 of wlieelstfor rrunning -onzthetracks of-the base member, suchbase'member and :tracksbeing;

constructed and I adapted =for receiving, at :assembly,; the wheels :ofthe intermediate member by; a direct. downward; movement; and: formeda-on. its-s upper surface with a pair of paralleLupwardly open, concavely. curved tracksv disposed transversely of the lines of tracking of its wheels, and a top platform member having two pairs of Wheels for. running on the tracks of the intermediate member, such intermediate member. and tracks alsobeing constructed and adapted for receiving, at assembly; the wheels of the top platform'member by a direct downward movement, each of the tracks being-the arc of a circle generated on a diameter which is somewhat longer than is the distance apart of the track engaging points of the pair of wheels intended to run upon it, and a body or weight supported from the top platform by four straps, the said four straps, two being lithe combination with a base member adapted to rest upon or be supported by some portion of a ship, and formed on its upper surface as a pair of parallel, upwardly "open, concavely curved tracks, of an intermediate member, two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the base member, drop hangers pivotally connected to the wheels and to the intermediate member, the base member and tracks being constructed and adapt-- ed for receiving, at assembly, the wheels of the intermediate member by a direct downward movement, and formed on its upper surface with a pair of parallel, upwardly open, concavely curved tracks disposed transversely of the lines of tracking of its wheels, and an upper member,

5 two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of of the intermediate member, drop hangers pivotally connected to the wheels and to the upper member, such intermediate member and tracks also being constructed and adapted for receiving, at assembly, the wheels of the upper member by a direct downward movement, each of the tracks being generated as an arc of a circle on a diameter which is somewhat longer than is the distance apart of the track engaging points of the pair of wheels intended to run upon it.

3. In a stabilizing device for use on shipboard the combination with a base member adapted to rest upon or be supported by some portion of a ship, and formedon its upper surface as a pair of ffj-iparallel, upwardly open, concavely curved tracks,

of an intermediate member, two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the base member, drop hangers pivotally connected to the wheels and to the intermediate member, the base member 7 .{posd transversely ofthe lines of tracking of its wheels, andan upper member, twopairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the intermediate member, drop hangers pivotally connected to the wheels and to the upper member, such intermediate member and tracks also being constructed and adapted for receiving, at assembly, the wheels of the upper member by a direct downward movement, each of the tracks being generated as an arc'of a circle on a diameter which is somewhat longer than is the distance apart of the track engaging points of the pair of wheels intended to run upon it, and a counter-poise weight connected .to and dependent from the. upper member.

4.. In astabilizing device for use on shipboard the combination with a base frame adapted to rest upon or be supported, by some portion of a ship,..of a'pair of members. each formed on its upper edge as a concavely curved track, hinges for pivotally uniting the track members to the framewhereby they may be raised into an upstanding operative position, or knocked down for transportation or storage, an'intermediate frame having two pairs of wheels forrunning on the.

tracks of, the base, frame, a pair of members formed on their upper edges as concavely curved tracks, hinges uniting these. track members to the intermediate framewhereby. they may be piV0t-' ally raised into an upstanding operative positiontransversely of the lines of the, tracking of the wheels carried by such frame, the track members also being adapted to fold down, and an upper frame havingtwo pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the intermediate frame.

5. In a stabilizing device foruse on shipboard the combination with a base frame adapted to rest upon or be supported by some, portion of a ship, of a pair of members each formed on its upper edge as a concavely curved track, hinges for pivctally uniting the track members to the frame whereby they may be raised into an upstanding operative position, or knocked down for transportation or storage, means for retaining the track members in their upstanding operative positions, an intermediate frame having two pairs of wheels for runningon the tracks of the base frame, a pair of members formed on their upper,

edges as concavely curved tracks, hinges uniting these track members to the intermediate frame whereby they may be pivotally raised into an upstanding operative position transversely of, the lines of the tracking of the wheels carried by such frame, means for retaining these latter track members in their upstanding operative positions, the track members also being adapted to fold down and an upper frame having two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the: intermediate frame.

6. In a stabilizing device for use on shipboard the combination with a base frame adapted to rest upon or be supported by some portion of a ship, of a pair of members each formed on its upper edge as a concavely curved, upwardly open, track, means for uniting the track members to the base frame and retaining them in upstanding operative positions and so constructed as to per 1 mit themto be knockeddownfor transportation or storagefan intermediate frame having two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks of the base frame, a pairof members each formed on itsuppereql as a concavely curved, upwardly open, track, means for uniting these track members to the intermediate frame and retaining themin upstanding operative positions and so constructed as to permit them-to be knocked down for transportation or storage-,such latter track members being located transversely of the lines of the tracking of the wheels carried by such intermediate frame, and an upper frame having two pairs of wheels for running on the tracks ofthe intermediate frame. v

'7. A readily demountable' structure consisting of a base platform adapted to rest upon or be supportedby some portion of a ship, a pair of continuous arcuatetrack means carried bysaid base platform, an intermediate platform equipped with friction reducing elements engaging the said arcuate track means, such intermediate plat" form also carrying continuous arcuate track means disposed transversely of the track means of the base platform, an upper body carrying platform equipped with friction reducing elements engaging the track means of the intermediate platform, the three platforms when, superimposed being held together solely by gravity; weight means, and straps fastened to the four sides of the upper platform and to the Weight means for suspending the weight means beneath the upper platform, and beneath the points of contact of the wheels of the intermediate platform with the tracks of the base member, whereby the said upper platform is rendered stable against boat motion and motion of a body carried thereby.

8. In a device of the character specified, the combination of three open frames superimposed one on the other, sets of transversely arranged tracks, and friction reducing elements engaging the tracks and cooperating with the frames, the three frames being held together solely by the attraction of gravity and being easily demountable, a weight, straps fastened to the four inner sides of the upper frame and supporting the said weight, the straps extending downward thru the open frame of the intermediate member to within a short distance of the lower part of the bottom frame, two of said straps being disposed in a plane'parallel to one set of tracks and the other two straps being disposed in a plane parallel to the other set of tracks, all arranged so that the straps in responding to the weight control pull the wheels in approximately the direction the Wheels should go to effect adjustment.

9. An easily demountable stabilizing device, comprising three separate superimposed platforms, a weight control suspended from the upper platform, wheels and sets of curved tracks engaged therewith carried by the platforms respectively, the said sets of tracks being so constructed as to come approximately to the same level, the connection between the upper platform and its wheels and the intermediate platform and its wheels being so constructed that these platforms are dropped below the point of track and wheel contact, whereby the point of contact of the body being stabilized with the said upper platform, comes below the points of wheel contact on said supporting sets of tracks, the organization being such that the upper platform will remain in a level position against the motion of the boat in any direction and also against the independent motion of the said body.

FREDERICK D. W. SEARING. 

